Dare and Had Better

August 18, 2010 -

Dare is used both as an ordinary verb and as an auxiliary verb. The ordinary verb dare is used in the sense of defy, challenge or face boldly. It has -s in the third person singular. Questions and negatives are made with do.

He did not dare to accept the challenge.

He dares you to do it.

As an auxiliary verb dare is uninflected. It doesn’t change its form whatever be the number and person of its subject. The auxiliary dare is commonly used in questions and negative sentences. It is not very common in affirmative clauses.

He dare not do such a thing.

How dare you contradict me?

He dare not accept the challenge.

Dare he say that to you?

How dare he do such a thing?

Notes
The expression ‘I dare say’ now just means ‘perhaps’.

I dare say he will agree to our proposal. (He will perhaps agree to our proposal.)